A 14-year-old boy described as having 'so much love to give' was killed by a train at a level crossing in Burton Joyce, Nottinghamshire, which has been the subject of repeated safety complaints and calls for closure. Josh Travis, a former Nottingham Forest academy goalkeeper, died on Wednesday evening after being struck at the Orchard Grove crossing.
The level crossing, which has no warning lights or alarms, requires pedestrians to decide for themselves when it is safe to cross. It spans the busy Nottingham to Lincoln line, used by around 70 trains daily at high speeds. Locals report 'dozens' of near misses over the years, including an incident in 2018 when Gavin and Stacey star Mat Horne was 'clipped' by a train and sent flying backwards, though he was not seriously injured.
Network Rail had applied to close the crossing on safety grounds in spring 2024, citing misuse and several near misses. The application was under consultation when Josh died. On 27 November, the local authority agreed to an emergency closure, initially for 21 days. Network Rail's route director Mark Budden said the organisation does not have legal powers to close the crossing; that decision rests with the highways authority.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch is investigating the incident. In 2021, the crossing was temporarily closed after 16 near misses in two years, reopening with new gates and a non-slip surface. In 2022, Network Rail released CCTV footage showing young people messing about on the line, including lying on tracks and taking photos.
